William Shatner — actor, comedian, pitchman, recording artist and author — turns 80 today. From Captain Kirk to an interpretive performance of "Common People," Shatner has had an accomplished and eccentric life. TIME takes a look at some of his best moments

An Interpretive Performance of ‘Rocket Man’

If you haven’t run across it yet, William Shatner’s interpretation of Elton John’s classic song is one of the most bizarre things you’ll ever see. In 1978, Shatner hosted the Science Fiction Film Awards show and performed “Rocket Man” (partially because of his Star Trek fame), dramatically reciting the verses while puffing on a cigarette. Halfway into the song, a second Shatner emerges, this time slightly more animated. Then a third comes into view until they’re all singing in unison. Later, Shatner said he didn’t think he’d be talking about the strange performance 30 years afterward. But a few years ago it went semiviral. “I feel badly about it because I never intended this song and some of those other things to see the light of day,” Shatner said. Well, we’re pretty happy they did.